BBQ, Banjoes and Do-Sa-Do For Sister City Guests

Written by L.A. Chung

Cupertino rolled out an all-American welcome Wednesday at Blackberry Farm for 22 guests from Toyokawa Japan Wednesday, in the 35th year of its enduring sister city relationship.

The delegation, which includes Mayor Minoru Yamawaki, were treated to some traditional banjo music, playing standards such as "California, Here I Come!"  The Katydids, a square dance club out of Campbell, showed off the fine form that has kept them dancing since 1962. Armadillo Willy's rounded out the event with ribs, salad and cornbread under the tall trees of the group picnic area.

"I deeply appreciate the city mayor, Mr. Orrin Mahoney and the president of the sister city committee, Mr. Asif Kausar, and all the people who coordinated our visit, Yamawaki said, through an interpreter, calling it "a great honor" to be here with the 21 members of the Toyokawa delegation.

Every five years, Cupertino and Toyokawa exchange two delegations, a student group and an adult group. The Cherry Blossom Festival, held every April, is an outgrowth of that relationship.

Mayor Orrin Mahoney described how he understood so much better the two cities' enduring relationship when he visited during Cupertino's turn last time.

"It wasn't until a few years ago I saw the true strength of our sister city relationship," Mahoney said, describing how he saw Cupertino's emblem outside Toyokawa's city hall and scenes from Cupertino inside. "It was a very meaningful trip."

The group, which is hosted by Cupertino families, arrived Tuesday and on Wednesday met at city hall for a tour of the library and then Apple, before repairing to Blackberry Farm for lunch and a walking tour of McClellan Ranch and the Environmental Education Center.

Thursday, the group went to the Tech Museum of Innovation, toured downtown San Jose, and the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. 

Friday, the delegation will go to San Francisco for a tour of Alcatraz Island, and dinner hosted by Mayor Mahoney.

Monday, they depart for Japan, after some goodbyes at City Hall ...and, of course, promises, as each side has made for 35 years: "See you again!"

Related stories:

10 Questions for Asif Kausar, President of the Toyokawa Sister City Program
A Great Day At the 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival
Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival Turns 30
Cupertino's Cheery Cherry Blossom Festival
Toyokawa, Japan—Cupertino's Sister City—'is Fine'
More Letters from Toyokawa, Japan
Toyokawa Student Delegates Arrive in Sister City of Cupertino
Toyokawa Exchange Students Got a Taste of Cupertino